On a Tuesday morning, Ash watched soft snow fall from her bedroom window and felt a brief urge to share the moment, but the house was quiet except for Nina on an early Zoom call. As the snow stopped before she left for work, Ash felt disappointed and adrift, sensing the day would blur into meaninglessness.

At the shop, Marcelline told Ash she had been googling Nick Radcliffe and had even run a reverse image search on his profile photo, finding nothing. When Ash asked if she suspected anything, Marcelline said she was simply nosy and did this for everyone. Ash gave a noncommittal response.

Earlier that morning, Ash had shown Nina the simple gold ring she had found. Ash said she found it on the landing outside Nina’s room, concealing that she had actually discovered it deep in Nina’s bedroom rug while snooping. Nina called it weird and assumed it must be Nick’s. Ash pointed out that it looked like a wedding ring and asked if Nick had been married. Nina said he had not, but suggested that since Nick’s fiancée died two weeks before their wedding, he might carry the ring as a memento.

Ash accepted the explanation outwardly and urged Nina to call Nick so they could hear his explanation directly. Nina refused, saying he would be at work and she would message him instead. Ash pressed briefly, asking for Nina’s phone, but backed down when Nina pushed back, aware she could not explain her suspicions without seeming needy or insecure.

Back at work, Ash tried to distract herself by steaming clothes in the back. The day was slow: three customers came in, one bought a summer dress, another purchased three identical knits, and a regular stayed for tea after dropping off two bags of castoffs. At closing time, Ash headed home, marking another day that felt empty and unresolved.